Italian drinks guide
Italian coffee drinks
Last updated
Italian coffee is small, strong and quick. Most of it starts with a single shot of espresso, and the variations come from what's added — a spot of foam, hot milk, cocoa, chocolate, ice or a shaker. Timing matters too: milky drinks tend to be a morning thing, while a plain espresso closes lunch or dinner. Below is every caffè on the site, each with its own page on how it's built and when to order it. Larry's rule: stand at the bar, drink it hot, and get on with your day.
Quick answer
The core Italian coffee drinks are espresso (a single concentrated shot), macchiato (espresso marked with a little foam), cappuccino (espresso with steamed milk and foam, usually a morning drink), caffè latte (more milk), marocchino (espresso with cocoa and foam) and, in summer, caffè shakerato and granita di caffè.
Caffè
The Italian coffee menu, ordered correctly
Espresso
25–30 ml, thick crema
If you just say “un caffè” in Italy, this is what arrives.
Caffè Macchiato
Espresso “stained” with milk
All the coffee, a whisper of milk. Acceptable at any hour.
Cappuccino
Espresso, steamed milk, foam in thirds
Ordering one after dinner is legal but everyone will notice.
Caffè Latte
Milk-forward, mild
Order “latte” in Italy and you get a glass of milk. Say the whole word.
Marocchino
Espresso, cocoa and foam
The Piedmont mid-afternoon repair job.
Caffè Shakerato
Iced, foamy, no dilution
The only correct iced coffee in Italy. The foam is the whole point.
Granita di Caffè
Frozen coffee ice, Sicilian
Breakfast in Catania in August. Not a dessert, a survival tool.
Bicerin
Espresso, drinking chocolate and cream, layered
Turin's 18th-century layered coffee. Drink it through the cream — stirring it is a crime in Piedmont.
Caffè Freddo
Pre-chilled sweet espresso
Southern Italian bars keep a bottle of it cold all summer. Ice would only water it down.
Affogato
Espresso poured over gelato
'Drowned.' Dessert and coffee in one move — the most efficient thing in Italy.
Pair them with Italian antipasti, aperitivo hour or sausage and peppers.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a cappuccino and a caffè latte?
A cappuccino is espresso with a balanced layer of steamed milk and thick foam; a caffè latte has more milk and less foam.
Why don't Italians drink cappuccino after lunch?
It's a custom: milky coffee is generally seen as a breakfast drink, while a plain espresso follows a meal.
What is a caffè shakerato?
Espresso shaken hard with ice (and usually a little sugar) until frothy, then strained into a glass — a summer favorite.
If I order a 'latte' in Italy, what will I get?
Often just a glass of milk — ask for a caffè latte if you want coffee in it.
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